Archived: Ridgway House

Updated 1 November 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Ridgeway House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Ridgeway House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including the registered manager, senior care workers, kitchen staff and care workers.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 1 November 2022

About the service

Ridgway House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for to up to 25 people. The service provides support to older and younger people, people with sensory impairments, people with physical disabilities and/or people with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 18 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

We have made a recommendation to review the dependency tool used to identify staffing levels required to meet people’s needs. Staff and people told us that at times staff were not available.

Medicine management required improvement to ensure medicines were recorded as administered. Staff had the information required to administer as required medicines to people who needed them.

Records of support offered to people were at times inconsistent. For example, oral hygiene and bathing records did not evidence consistent support was offered.

The oversight governance of the service required improvement and embedding into practice. Not all issues found on inspection had been identified previously.

Risks to people had been assessed and mitigating strategies had been implemented. However, some risk assessments required further information recorded to ensure new staff could understand specific health concerns.

People were protected from abuse. Systems and processes were in place to ensure safeguarding concerns were recorded, investigated and mitigated. Staff received training and understood safeguarding procedures.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were supported by kind caring staff who received an adequate induction, training and support to meet people’s needs. Staff knew people well and care plans were generally reflective of people’s needs.

People’s needs were assessed, and staff promoted people’s independence and respected their privacy and dignity.

People, relatives and staff knew how to complain and felt able to raise issues with managers.

Significant people were kept updated on any incidents, accidents or changes to peoples need. When required staff referred people to appropriate healthcare professions.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

This service was registered with us on 1 April 2021 and this is the first inspection under a new provider.

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was requires improvement, (published 12 January 2021)

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.